THE EGYPT PRINCIPLE

The Egypt Principle

"God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform." Old proverb.

"Say, for example, He wants you to go to Egypt. If that’s the case, He will provide you with 11 jealous brothers, and they’ll sell you into slavery." Rich Mullins

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." Genesis 50:20

1. Joseph continued to trust God.

In moments of crisis, we can base our actions on how we have sensed God moving, and also on the God-given faith we find within ourselves.

"Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday." Psalms 37:5-6

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." Phil 4:11-12

a) Life seemed very unfair and destructive.

"Consolation is understood not as happy feelings, but that which opens us up to God and others. Even difficult circumstances can lead to consolation if we sense God in them."

Consolation: "comfort received by a person after a loss or disappointment; encouragement."

b) Joseph continued to do right things.

Slavery;

Potiphar’s wife;

prison;

prophecy;

obedience.

c) God raised Joseph up to be second to Pharaoh in command of Egypt. Joseph prepared Egypt for the coming world famine.

d) God brought Jacob and all his family to Egypt. God’s promise to Abraham was being fulfilled. The Jews became a great nation as slaves. They were being prepared for Canaan.

"And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect."

Gal 3:17

2. God is at work in our world today.

"I don’t think God’s plan for you has to be complicated. God’s will is that you love Him with all your heart and soul and mind, and also that you love your neighbor as yourself. Get busy with that, and then, if God wants you to do something unusual, He’ll take care of it." Rich Mullins

"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." James 4:13-15

"Without forgetting the deep differences that divide us, now as never before we are called to stand and work together for the cause of Christ in a broken world." WYD


"And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment." 1 John 3:22-23

3. Sons and daughters of encouragement.

"And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet." Acts 4:36-37

"Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." Acts 11:22-26

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13